Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 February 2013
683. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his response to the recent report published by a company (details supplied) which estimates the State would remain liable for costs of €1.3 billion following a sale of harvesting rights; his views on the report's conclusion that the sale of Coillte's harvesting rights would not bring economic benefits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5243/13]
View answerThe report to which the Deputy refers arises from the Government decision, in the context of the State asset disposal programme, that a concession for the harvesting rights to Coillte’s forests be put forward for sale.
Further to that Government decision, significant work has been undertaken by the NewERA Unit of the National Treasury Management Agency in conjunction with Coillte, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and my Department to examine the financial and other implications of a potential transaction. This consideration process, encompassing the identification of the forestry assets, the determination of their value and the consideration of a number of issues associated with the proposed sale of the harvesting rights is at an advanced stage and no final decision has been taken, as yet.
The recently launched report “Assessment of the Consequences of the proposed Sale of Coillte’s Timber Harvesting Rights – 10 January 2013” by Peter Bacon and Associates, commissioned by IMPACT, will now be considered as part of the ongoing process.
As part of the associated consultation process, representatives of NewERA, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and my Department met with the Coillte Group of Unions on 25 January last at which the process involved was outlined and the views of those unions and a copy of the Report were received. I wish to advise that, as agreed with the representatives of the Coillte Unions, the report is currently being analysed by NewERA and the two Department after which a further meeting will be held with the unions.
